Supporting Ministers

Biography

Derek is currently SNP Business Convener (Chairman of the Party), responsible for chairing Conference, the National Executive and the management and administration of the party.

Elected to Renfrewshire Council in 1999 at the age of 21, he was the youngest male councillor in Scotland at the time. He won three successive ward elections to become Leader of Renfrewshire Council in May 2007, taking the SNP from opposition to lead the administration for the first time. He became a national figure in local government leading the SNP group at COSLA (Convention of Scottish Local Authorities) 2009 to 2011.

He served on Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of Renfrewshire Community Health Partnership (2007 to 2011). He was also previously chair of the Paisley Vision Board and Renfrewshire's Fairtrade Steering Group.

Derek has been the Member of the Scottish Parliament for Renfrewshire North and West since 2011, and was previously served as Minister for Transport and Islands and Minister for Local Government and Planning. Derek Mackay was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Constitution in May 2016.